Best and worst business advice I’ve ever received

I recently responded to a reporter’s HARO (Help A Reporter Out) request for the best and worst business advice I’ve received and my advice for future business owners. My response was published along with others’ in a series by BestCompany.com.

Here’s what I said. Credit goes to Mary Ellen Bates for the best business advice (always):

What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?

Listen to and focus on the customer. Talk to people in the industry to understand their needs and wants, find ways to fill those needs, and make it easy for clients to work with you. Always keep updating what you know about your customers and others like them.

What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received?

As a private investigator, I would never be taken seriously as a woman and should bring in a male partner. Never did that and never had trouble being taken seriously.

What advice would you give to your younger self/future business owners?

You need to understand what your clients value. Don’t decide what you want to offer without determining if it’s something they value.

Make sure to check out more advice from other business owners in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series.